Our impact
Impact is our measure. New treatments reach patients. Evidence reshapes national guidelines. Emerging risks are detected earlier. Every discovery, every innovation, every insight moves from our work into the world – improving health where it counts.
Impact in practice
A cure for sleeping sickness
For decades, sleeping sickness had few treatment options. Through drug discovery, clinical research, and international partnerships, Swiss TPH helped change that, contributing to new therapies now reaching the people who need them most, as the disease moves towards elimination.
The first malaria treatment for newborns
Newborns with malaria had no treatment made for them – until now. Swiss TPH led a clinical trial in the DRC as part of the international CALINA study, which resulted in a dedicated therapy approved by Swissmedic in 2025. It's a milestone for the most vulnerable patients and a model for closing critical gaps in paediatric care.
Decades of data, shaping the air we breathe
What does long-term air pollution do to human health? We have spent years finding out. Our cohort studies now underpin WHO's global air quality guidelines, turning rigorous science into international standards that protect millions of people.
Smarter tools, healthier children
When a child arrives at a clinic, getting the diagnosis right matters enormously. We developed digital decision support tools that help frontline health workers do exactly that, cutting unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions, improving outcomes, and tackling antimicrobial resistance.
Our contribution to the SDGs
Swiss TPH actively contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with a primary focus on SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being. Our work to reduce disease burden, strengthen health systems and improve access to care directly supports this goal. Through education, partnerships and a commitment to equity, we also contribute to SDGs 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) – while supporting broader progress on poverty reduction, inclusion and accountable institutions.
→ Read more about our contribution
From evidence to policy
Swiss TPH connects research, policy and implementation to ensure that scientific evidence informs decisions and leads to sustainable improvements in health.
We host three WHO Collaborating Centres that generate evidence for international policy and guidelines, shaping how diseases are monitored, controlled and prevented worldwide.
Through our work, we also contribute to broader policy dialogue, including areas such as science diplomacy and emerging global health challenges.
Selected policy briefs:
- Heat in nursing and care settings: Action is needed
- Swiss science diplomacy – strategies, instruments and implications for international cooperation
- Towards strong Swiss-African science diplomacy
- Research–Implementation Organisations and Their Role for Sustainabale Development
- Combining Research and Services at Swiss Research Institutions to Accelerate Sustainable Development